Terminal apparatus, control apparatus, installation-location-ascertainment support system, installation-location-setting support system, installation-location-ascertainment support method, installation-location-setting support method, and program

ABSTRACT

A device information acquirer acquires device information of each electrical device of a plurality of electrical devices from a control apparatus. A device information display associates and displays on a screen an identifier, an expected installation location, and a device state for each electrical device based on the device information of each electrical device acquired by the device information acquirer. The device information acquirer acquires from the control apparatus the device state information of an electrical device of interest newly collected by the control apparatus after the electrical device installed at the expected installation location of the electrical device of interest is operated by the user. The device information display explicitly shows on the screen whether the device state of the electrical device of interest has changed due to the operation by the user based on the device state information of the electrical device of interest acquired by the device information acquirer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. national stage application of InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/JP2013/080835 filed on Nov. 14, 2013, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a terminal apparatus, controlapparatus, installation location check support system, installationlocation setting support system, installation location check supportmethod, installation location setting support method, and program thatcan support proper setting of a control apparatus to proper locationswhere electrical devices are installed.

BACKGROUND

Currently, home network systems for controlling and/or monitoringelectrical devices present in a house using a control apparatus such asa gateway are known. Such home network systems allow the users tocontrol and/or monitor the electrical devices using the controlapparatus or a terminal apparatus connected to the control apparatus.

Here, for improved convenience, techniques are known for storinginstallation location information presenting the locations where theelectrical devices are installed in the control apparatus or the likeand using the stored installation location information for various kindsof control. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an equipmentcontrol system using installation location information of devices storedin the location information storing means for device control.

PATENT LITERATURE

-   Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai    Publication No. 2011-55121

In the equipment control system disclosed in the Patent Literature 1 orthe like, if some installation location information of devices stored inthe location information storing means is wrong, the device control willnot properly be executed. However, the equipment control systemdisclosed in the Patent Literature 1 uses technology that is implementedon the assumption that the installation location information of devicesstored in the location information storing means is correct. Therefore,the Patent Literature 1 discloses absolutely no method of properlysetting the installation location information. For that reason, there isa demand for a technique that can support setting of a control apparatusfor the correct locations where electrical devices are installed.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is made with in view of the above problem and anobjective of the disclosure is to provide a terminal apparatus, controlapparatus, installation location check support system, installationlocation setting support system, installation location check supportmethod, installation location setting support method, and program thatcan support setting of a control apparatus for proper locations whereelectrical devices are installed.

In order to achieve the above objective, the terminal apparatusaccording to the present disclosure comprises:

device information acquisition means for acquiring device information ofeach electrical device of a plurality of electrical devices from acontrol apparatus configured to collect from each electrical devicedevice state information indicating a device state of an electricaldevice, and store the device information of each electrical deviceincluding information indicating an identifier identifying theelectrical device, information indicating an expected installationlocation expected to be a location where the electrical device isinstalled, and the collected device state information; and

device information display means for associating and displaying on ascreen the identifier, the expected installation location, and thedevice state for each electrical device based on the device informationof each electrical device acquired by the device information acquisitionmeans,

wherein the device information acquisition means acquires from thecontrol apparatus device state information of an electrical device ofinterest that is the electrical device identified with an identifier auser is interested in, the device state information being newlycollected by the control apparatus after the electrical device installedat the expected installation location displayed on the screen inassociation with the identifier the user is interested in among theidentifiers displayed on the screen by the device information displaymeans is operated by the user; and

the device information display means explicitly shows on the screenwhether the device state of the electrical device of interest haschanged due to the operation by the user based on the device stateinformation of the electrical device of interest acquired by the deviceinformation acquisition means.

The present disclosure can support proper setting of a control apparatusfor proper locations where electrical devices are installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration for explaining a summary of the installationlocation check support system according to Embodiment 1 of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the controlapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electricaldevice according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the terminalapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the function of the terminalapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing an installation location check screenon which update buttons are displayed;

FIG. 7 is an illustration showing an installation location check screenafter an individual update button is pressed;

FIG. 8 is an illustration showing an installation location check screenafter the collective update button is pressed;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the installation location check supportprocedure executed by the terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the installation location check supportprocedure executed by the terminal apparatus according to a modifiedversion of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining functions of the terminal apparatusaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is an illustration showing an installation location check screenon which installation location check buttons are displayed;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the installation location check supportprocedure executed by the terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 2of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is an illustration for explaining functions of the controlapparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the installation location setting supportprocedure executed by the control apparatus according to Embodiment 3 ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereafter withreference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

First, an installation location check support system 1000 according toEmbodiment 1 of the present disclosure is described. The installationlocation check support system 1000 is applicable to a home networksystem controlling or monitoring electrical devices 210, 220, and 230installed in a house from a control apparatus 100. Here, theinstallation location check support system 1000 is a system supportingthe user, using a terminal apparatus 300, to check whether theinstallation locations of the electrical device 210 and the like set(registered) in the control apparatus 100 are correct.

On the other hand, the user operates an electrical device installed atan installation location set in the control apparatus 100 as theinstallation location of a target electrical device (an expectedinstallation location), and determines whether the device state of thetarget electrical device displayed on the screen of the terminalapparatus 300 changes. Then, the user can determine that theinstallation location is correct if the device state of the targetelectrical device changes on the screen, or determine that theinstallation location is not correct if the device state of the targetelectrical device does not change on the screen.

Here, if the user finds that the registered installation location is notcorrect, using the control apparatus 100 or terminal apparatus 300, theuser can then set a correct installation location in the controlapparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the installation location check support system 1000includes the control apparatus 100 controlling or monitoring theelectrical device 210 and the like, the electrical devices 210, 220, and230 to be controlled or monitored, the terminal apparatus 300 operatingthe control apparatus 100, and an indoor telecommunication network 400interconnecting the apparatuses of the installation location checksupport system 1000.

The control apparatus 100 controls or monitors the electrical devices210, 220, 230, and the like via the indoor telecommunication network 400according to instructions from the user, instructions from the terminalapparatus 300, automated programs, and the like. Therefore, the controlapparatus 100 includes an interface for connection to the indoortelecommunication network 400. Moreover, the control apparatus 100manages the identification of where each of the electrical devices 210,220, and 230 is installed in the house.

Here, the method for the control apparatus 100 to manage theidentification of installation locations of the electrical devices 210,220, and 230 can be appropriately modified. For example, the controlapparatus 100 can display a screen receiving input of installationlocations of the electrical devices 210, 220, and 230 on a touch screen16, and can receive input of the installation locations from the user.Alternatively, the control apparatus 100 may receive informationpresenting the installation locations (“installation locationinformation” as appropriate hereafter) from the terminal apparatus 300and the like. Then, the control apparatus 100 stores the installationlocation information in a flash memory 14 in association withinformation presenting identifiers of the electrical devices 210, 220,and 230 (“identifier information” as appropriate hereafter).

Here, the installation locations entered by the user or the like are notalways correct and may be wrong in some cases. Then, the installationlocation check support system 1000 supports the user in checking whetherthe installation locations managed by the control apparatus 100 arecorrect.

The electrical devices 210, 220, and 230 are each a device to becontrolled or monitored, and are installed, for example, in the user'shouse. The electrical devices 210, 220, and 230 each communicate withthe control apparatus 100 via the indoor telecommunication network 400.Therefore, the electrical devices 210, 220, and 230 each include aninterface for making connection to the indoor telecommunication network400. The electrical devices 210, 220, and 230 each basically execute anoperation according to contents of a request frame received from thecontrol apparatus 100 and send to the control apparatus 100 a responseframe in response to the request frame.

Each of the electrical devices 210, 220, and 230 is, for example, anappliance such as an air conditioner, water heater, electrical heater,rice cooker, lighting apparatus, or electrical carpet. In thisembodiment, the electrical device 210 is assumed to be an airconditioner installed in the living room (air conditioner 1), theelectrical device 220 is assumed to be an air conditioner installed inthe study (air conditioner 2), and the electrical device 230 is assumedto be an air conditioner installed in the bedroom (air conditioner 3).Here, when multiple electrical devices of the same kind are present inthe house as in this case, the user is can be considered to be likely tomisidentify an electrical device and register a wrong installationlocation in the control apparatus 100.

The terminal apparatus 300 functions as an interface of the controlapparatus 100. Therefore, the terminal apparatus 300 has a function formaking connection to the indoor telecommunication network 400 andcommunicates with the control apparatus 100 via the indoortelecommunication network 400. For example, the terminal apparatus 300sends control signals for remote control to the control apparatus 100according to instructions from the user so as to remotely control theelectrical devices 210, 220, and 230. Moreover, the terminal apparatus300 monitors the operation states of the electrical devices 210, 220,and 230 and the like via the control apparatus 100. In this embodiment,the terminal apparatus 300 functions as a tool for supporting the userin checking the installation locations set in the control apparatus 100.The terminal apparatus 300 is, for example, a smartphone, cell-phone, ortablet terminal.

The indoor telecommunication network 400 is a telecommunication networksuch as a wireless local area network (LAN) established within thehouse. The indoor telecommunication network 400 interconnects thecontrol apparatus 100, electrical device 210, electrical device 220,electrical device 230, and terminal apparatus 300. Here, the terminalapparatus 300 may be connected to the control apparatus 100 via atelecommunication network established outside the house such as theInternet, rather than via the indoor telecommunication network 400.

The physical configuration of the control apparatus 100 is describednext with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the control apparatus100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11 for controlling theentire operation of the control apparatus 100, a read only memory (ROM)12 for storing programs executed by the CPU 11, a random access memory(RAM) 13 functioning as the work area of the CPU 11, the flash memory 14for storing various kinds of information, a real time clock (RTC) 15that is a device for measuring the time, the touch screen 16 functioningas a user interface of the control apparatus 100, and an indoortelecommunication network interface 17 connecting the control apparatus100 to the indoor telecommunication network 400. The components of thecontrol apparatus 100 are interconnected via a bus.

The CPU 11 controls the entire operation of the control apparatus 100.Here, the CPU 11 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 12 anduses the RAM 13 as a work area.

The ROM 12 stores programs and data for controlling the entire operationof the control apparatus 100.

The RAM 13 functions as the work area of the CPU 11. In other words, theCPU 11 temporarily writes programs and data in the RAM 13 andappropriately refers to the programs and data.

The flash memory 14 is a nonvolatile memory for storing various kinds ofinformation. Here, the control apparatus 100 may include a hard disk orthe like rather than the flash memory 14. Moreover, the controlapparatus 100 may store various kinds of information in the terminalapparatus 300 connected to the indoor telecommunication network 400 orin a non-illustrated storage connected to the indoor telecommunicationnetwork 400.

The RTC 15 is a device for measuring the time. The RTC 15 includes, forexample, a built-in battery and continues to measure the time even whilethe control apparatus 100 is powered off. The RTC 15 includes, forexample, an oscillation circuit comprising a crystal oscillator.

The touch screen 16 detects touch operations conducted by the user andsupplies signals presenting the detected results to the CPU 11.Moreover, the touch screen 16 displays images based on image signalssupplied from the CPU 11 and the like. As just described, the touchscreen 16 functions as the user interface of the control apparatus 100.

The indoor telecommunication network interface 17 connects the controlapparatus 100 to the indoor telecommunication network 400. The indoortelecommunication network interface 17 communicates with the electricaldevices 210, 220, and 230 and terminal apparatus 300 according tocontrol by the CPU 11. The indoor telecommunication network interface 17comprises, for example, a LAN interface such as a network interface card(NIC).

The physical configuration of the electrical device 210 is describednext with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the electrical device210 includes a CPU 21 controlling the entire operation of the electricaldevice 210, a ROM 22 storing programs executed by the CPU 21 and thelike, a RAM 23 functioning as the work area of the CPU 21, a flashmemory 24 storing various kinds of information, an RTC 25 that is adevice for measuring the time, a touch screen 26 functioning as the userinterface of the electrical device 210, an indoor telecommunicationnetwork interface 27 connecting the electrical device 210 to the indoortelecommunication network 400, an operation execution apparatus 28executing operations corresponding to the function of the electricaldevice 210. The components of the electrical device 210 areinterconnected via a bus. The electrical device 210 has basically thesame configuration as the control apparatus 100, except for theoperation execution apparatus 28, and thus explanation thereof isomitted.

The operation execution apparatus 28 executes operations correspondingto the functions of the electrical device 210. For example, when theelectrical device 210 is an air conditioner, the operation executionapparatus 28 executes air conditioning operations, such as temperaturesetting, cooling, heating, dehumidification and air blowing. Forexample, when the electrical device 210 is a lighting apparatus, theoperation execution apparatus 28 executes operations of turning on andturning off the light. The operation execution apparatus 28 executes,for example, an operation according to the contents of a request framesupplied from the control apparatus 100. Moreover, for example, aresponse frame containing the results of an operation by the operationexecution apparatus 28 is supplied to the control apparatus 100. Here,basically, as the operation execution apparatus 28 executes anoperation, the device state of the electrical device 210 changes.

Here, the electrical device 220 and electrical device 230 can comprisethe same configuration as the electrical device 210. However, theoperation execution apparatus 28 of the electrical device 220 executesoperations corresponding to the function of the electrical device 220and the operation execution apparatus 28 of the electrical device 230executes operations corresponding to the function of the electricaldevice 230.

The physical configuration of the terminal apparatus 300 is describednext with reference to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the terminalapparatus 300 includes a CPU 31 controlling the entire operation of theterminal apparatus 300, a ROM 32 storing programs executed by the CPU 31and the like, a RAM 33 functioning as the work area of the CPU 31, aflash memory 34 for storing various kinds of information, an RTC 35 thatis a device for measuring the time, a touch screen 36 functioning as theuser interface of the terminal apparatus 300, and an indoortelecommunication network interface 37 for connecting the terminalapparatus 300 to the indoor telecommunication network 400. Thecomponents of the terminal apparatus 300 are interconnected via a bus.The terminal apparatus 300 has basically the same configuration as thecontrol apparatus 100 and thus explanation thereof is omitted.

The basic function of the terminal apparatus 300 is described next withreference to FIG. 5. The terminal apparatus 300 functionally includes adevice information acquirer 301 for acquiring device information, adevice information display 302 for displaying the device information, anacquisition instruction receiver 303 for receiving an acquisitioninstruction, and an acquisition request transmitter 304 for transmittingan acquisition request.

The device information acquirer 301 acquires device information of eachelectrical device from the control apparatus 100. Here, the controlapparatus 100 collects from the electrical devices device stateinformation presenting the device state of an electrical device.Moreover, the control apparatus 100 stores device information of eachelectrical device including information presenting an identifieridentifying the electrical device, an expected installation locationthat is expected to be the location where the electrical device isinstalled, and the collected device state information. For example, thecontrol apparatus 100 stores the device information of each electricaldevice in the flash memory 14. The device information acquirer 301includes, for example, the CPU 31 and indoor telecommunication networkinterface 37.

The device information display 302 associates and displays on a screenthe identifier, expected installation location, and device state foreach electrical device based on the device information of eachelectrical device acquired by the device information acquirer 301. Thedevice information display 302 includes, for example, the CPU 31 andtouch screen 36.

Here, the device information acquirer 301 acquires from the controlapparatus 100 device state information of an electrical device ofinterest, which is the electrical device identified with an identifierthat the user is interested in, the device state information being newlycollected by the control apparatus 100 after the operation targetelectrical device is operated by the user. Here, the operation targetelectrical device is an electrical device installed at an expectedinstallation location displayed on the screen in association with anidentifier the user is interested in among the identifiers displayed onthe screen by the device information display 302.

Here, for example, if there are no electrical devices of the same kindin one room (at one installation location), the electrical device ofinterest is presumably the operation target electrical device providedthat the expected installation location of the electrical device ofinterest is correct. On the other hand, even if there are no electricaldevices of the same kind in one room (at one installation location), anelectrical device other than the electrical device of interest may bethe operation target electrical device when the expected installationlocation of the electrical device of interest is wrong.

Here, based on the device state information of the electrical device ofinterest acquired by the device information acquirer 301, the deviceinformation acquirer 301 explicitly shows on the screen whether thedevice state of the electrical device of interest has changed due to theoperation by the user. The method of clearly showing whether the devicestate of the electrical device of interest has changed can be adjustedas appropriate. For example, the device state of the electrical deviceof interest may simply be updated on the screen or the fields on thescreen in which information regarding the electrical device of interestis displayed may be highlighted.

After the operation by the user, the acquisition instruction receiver303 receives an instruction to acquire the device state information ofthe electrical device of interest. The acquisition instruction isenabled, for example, by a button to be pressed by the user. Theacquisition instruction receiver 303 includes, for example, the CPU 31and touch screen 36.

In response to the acquisition instruction receiver 303 receiving theacquisition instruction, the acquisition request transmitter 304 sendsto the control apparatus 100 a request to acquire the device stateinformation of the electrical device of interest. The acquisitionrequest is a request for the control apparatus 100 to send a command torequest the device state information to the electrical device ofinterest and receive the device state information from the electricaldevice of interest. The acquisition request transmitter 304 includes,for example, the CPU 31 and indoor telecommunication network interface37.

Here, the device information acquirer 301 acquires from the controlapparatus 100 the device state information newly collected from theelectrical device of interest by the control apparatus 100 in responseto the acquisition request sent from the acquisition request transmitter304.

Then, in the fields on the screen where the device information of theelectrical device of interest is displayed, the device informationdisplay 302 explicitly shows whether the device state of the electricaldevice of interest has changed before versus after the receiving of theacquisition instruction by the acquisition instruction receiver 303.

Moreover, the acquisition instruction receiver 303 may receive aninstruction to acquire the device state information of the electricaldevices after the operation by the user.

In such a case, in response to reception of the acquisition instructionby the acquisition instruction receiver 303, the acquisition requesttransmitter 304 sends to the control apparatus 100 a request to acquirethe device state information of the electrical devices.

On the other hand, the device information acquirer 301 acquires from thecontrol apparatus 100 the device state information newly collected fromthe electrical devices by the control apparatus 100 in response to theacquisition request sent from the acquisition request transmitter 304.

Then, the device information display 302 explicitly shows the fields onthe screen in which the device information is displayed of an electricaldevice for which the device state after the reception of the acquisitioninstruction by the acquisition instruction receiver 303 has changedrelative to before reception of the acquisition instruction.

An installation location check screen on which update buttons aredisplayed is described next with reference to FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, an identifier (the name of an electrical device), aninstallation location (an expected installation location), a devicestate, and an update button are associated and displayed for eachelectrical device on a screen 600 that is an installation location checkscreen. Here, the identifier is displayed in a field 601, theinstallation location is displayed in a field 602, and the device stateis displayed in a field 603. Here, the identifier, installationlocation, and device state are all indicated by the device informationthat the terminal apparatus 300 acquires from the control apparatus 100.In other words, the control apparatus 100 retains the device informationof each electrical device. Here, the control apparatus 100 updates thedevice state information in the retained device information asappropriate based on the device state information acquired from theelectrical devices.

FIG. 6 shows a case in which the electrical device 210 (air conditioner1) is installed in the living room and is not running, the electricaldevice 220 (air conditioner 2) is installed in the study and is notrunning, and the electrical device 230 (air conditioner 3) is installedin the bedroom and is not running.

Moreover, buttons 604 are displayed next to the fields 603. The buttons604 are each an individual update button for receiving an instruction toupdate the device state of the electrical device corresponding to thebutton 604.

Moreover, a button 605 is displayed on the screen 600. The button 605 isa collective update button for receiving an instruction to update thedevice states of all electrical devices.

An installation location check screen after an individual update buttonis pressed is described next with reference to FIG. 7.

Firstly, the installation location check screen shown in FIG. 6 isassumed to be displayed, and the user is assumed to check whether theinstallation location of an electrical device the user is interested in(“an electrical device of interest” as appropriate hereafter) iscorrectly registered. Here, the electrical device of interest is assumedto be the electrical device 230, that is, air conditioner 3. In such acase, the user moves to the bedroom where the electrical device 230 isexpected to be installed and operates the electrical device installed inthe bedroom directly, or using a dedicated remote control, so as tochange the device state. For example, the user operates a button of theelectrical device installed in the bedroom so that the device state ofthe electrical device installed in the bedroom changes from “notrunning” to “cooling”. Subsequently, the user presses the button 604,displayed on the screen 600, that is associated with the electricaldevice of interest (an individual update button). Upon pressing of thebutton 604, the screen 600 shown in FIG. 6 is updated to a screen 610shown in FIG. 7.

The screen 610 shows that the electrical device operated by the user isthe electrical device of interest. In other words, the screen 610 showsthat the electrical device 230, recognized by the control apparatus 100as the device installed in the bedroom, is actually installed in thebedroom. As just described, the screen 610 shows that the installationlocation of the electrical device of interest registered in the controlapparatus 100 is correct.

Here, the method of explicitly showing that the installation location iscorrect can be appropriately adjusted. For example, as shown in FIG. 7,the field showing the device state of the electrical device of interestcan be displayed in a different mode (for example, in color) incomparison to the fields showing the device states of the otherelectrical devices. Here, as long as the device state of the electricaldevice of interest is updated on the screen 610, permissibly no mode,such as color, changes. This configuration enables the user to knowwhether the set installation location is correct based on whether thedevice state of the electrical device of interest changes.

On the other hand, if the installation location of the electrical deviceof interest is not correct, the screen 600 shown in FIG. 6 is maintainedeven after pressing of the button 604. This is because, for example, ifthe installation location of the electrical device 230 is wrongly set asthe living room, the user operates another electrical device in theliving room (for example, the electrical device 210) and the devicestate of the electrical device 230 does not change. Here, uponindividual updating of the device state, the updated device state is notreflected in the screen display when the device state of anotheroperated electrical device changes.

An installation location check screen after the collective update buttonis pressed is described next with reference to FIG. 8.

Here, basically the same assumptions as described above are made exceptthat the user is assumed to press the collective update button insteadof the individual update button. Therefore, the electrical device ofinterest is the electrical device 230. First, the user operates a buttonof the electrical device that is installed in the bedroom and that isexpected to be the electrical device 230. Subsequently, the user pressesthe button 605, that is, collective update button, displayed on thescreen 600. Due to pressing-operating of the button 605, the screen 600shown in FIG. 6 is updated to a screen 620 shown in FIG. 8.

The screen 620 shows that the electrical device operated by the user isthe electrical device of interest. In other words, the screen 620 showsthat the electrical device 230 that the control apparatus 100 recognizesas the device installed in the bedroom is actually installed in thebedroom. As just described, the screen 620 shows that the installationlocation of the electrical device of interest that is set in the controlapparatus 100 is correct.

Here, the method of explicitly showing that the installation location iscorrect can be appropriately modified. For example, as shown in FIG. 8,the fields showing information regarding the electrical device for whichthe device state has changed can be displayed in a different mode (forexample, in color) in comparison to the fields showing the device statesof the other electrical devices. Here, as long as the device state isupdated, on the screen 620, for the electrical device that has a changeddevice state, permissibly no mode, such as color, changes. Such aconfiguration is permissible because, even in such a case, the user canknow whether the registered installation location is correct, based onwhether device state is changed for which electrical device.

Here, when the device states are collectively updated, because there isa changed device state of another operated electrical device, theupdated device state of the other electrical device is indicated in thescreen display. For example, if the installation location of theelectrical device 230 is wrongly registered as the living room, the useroperates another electrical device in the living room (for example, theelectrical device 210) and the device state of the electrical device 210changes, which is indicated in the screen display.

The installation location check support procedure executed by theterminal apparatus 300 is described next with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 9. Here, the terminal apparatus 300 starts theinstallation location check support procedure shown in FIG. 9, forexample, in response to receiving, by the touch screen 36, of aninstruction to start the installation location check support procedure.

First, the CPU 31 acquires the device information of the electricaldevices from the control apparatus 100 (step S101). For example, the CPU31 controls the indoor telecommunication network interface 37 to send tothe control apparatus 100 an instruction to acquire the deviceinformation of the electrical devices. On the other hand, the controlapparatus 100 sends the device information of each electrical devicestored in the flash memory 14 to the terminal apparatus 300. Here, it isassumed in this embodiment that the control apparatus 100 does notupdate the device information, particularly the device stateinformation, stored in the flash memory 14 unless the terminal apparatus300 instructs an update. Then the CPU 31 acquires the device informationof each electrical device sent from the control apparatus 100 via theindoor telecommunication network interface 37. The CPU 31 stores theacquired device information of each electrical device in the flashmemory 34.

After completing the processing of step S101, the CPU 31 displays aninstallation location check screen (step S102). More specifically,first, the CPU 31 identifies the identifier, installation location, anddevice state of each electrical device based on the acquired deviceinformation of each electrical device. Then the CPU 31 supplies to thetouch screen 36 image signals for displaying an installation locationcheck screen presenting the identified contents, for example, the screen600. On the other hand, the touch screen 36 displays an installationlocation check screen according to the image signals supplied from theCPU 31.

After completing the processing of step S102, the CPU 31 determineswhether an individual update button is pressed (step S103). Morespecifically, for example, the CPU 31 determines whether a touchoperation on a button 604 is received by the touch screen 36. Here, theuser presses an individual update button on the installation locationcheck screen after operating the electrical device installed at theinstallation location displayed as the installation location of anelectrical device of interest.

When an individual updated button is pressed (step S103; YES), the CPU31 identifies the electrical device of interest, that is to say, theelectrical device targeted for the acquiring of the device stateinformation (step S104). For example, the CPU 31 identifies theelectrical device corresponding to the pressed button 604 as theelectrical device of interest.

After completing the processing of step S104, the CPU 31 acquires thedevice state information of the electrical device of interest from thecontrol apparatus 100 (step S105). For example, the CPU 31 controls theindoor telecommunication network interface 37 to send an instruction toacquire the device state information of the electrical device ofinterest to the control apparatus 100. On the other hand, in response toreceiving the acquisition instruction from the terminal apparatus 300,the control apparatus 100 sends to the electrical device of interest aninstruction to request the device state information. On the other hand,in response to receiving the instruction from the control apparatus 100,the electrical device of interest sends the device state information tothe control apparatus 100.

Here, the control apparatus 100 updates the device information of theelectrical device of interest stored in the flash memory 14 based on thedevice state information received from the electrical device ofinterest. Moreover, the control apparatus 100 sends the device stateinformation received from the electrical device of interest to theterminal apparatus 300. On the other hand, the CPU 31 acquires thedevice state information sent from the control apparatus 100 via theindoor telecommunication network interface 37. The CPU 31 stores theacquired device state information of the electrical device of interestin the flash memory 34.

After completing the processing of step S105, the CPU 31 determineswhether the device state of the electrical device of interest after thepressing operation is changed relative to before the pressing operation(step S106). For example, the CPU 31 determines whether the device stateinformation of the electrical device of interest stored in the flashmemory 34 for before the pressing operation matches the device stateinformation the electrical device of interest stored in the flash memory34 for after the pressing operation of. Here, the device stateinformation before the pressing operation of the electrical device ofinterest is contained, for example, in the device information of eachelectrical device acquired in step S101, or updated device informationof each electrical device described later. Here, the CPU 31 can updatethe device information of each electrical device stored in the flashmemory 34 with the device state information of the electrical device ofinterest acquired in step S105.

If the device state of the electrical device of interest after thepressing operation is changed relative to before the pressing operation(step S106; YES), the CPU 31 updates the installation location checkscreen to explicitly show the electrical device of interest (step S107).More specifically, first, the CPU 31 updates the device state of theelectrical device of interest to a new device state on the installationlocation check screen before change of the device state of theelectrical device of interest (for example, the screen 600) and thenchanges the display mode to clarify the electrical device of interest.Then, the CPU 31 supplies to the touch screen 36 image signals fordisplaying a changed installation location check screen, for example, asthe screen 610. On the other hand, the touch screen 36 displays theinstallation location check screen according to the image signalssupplied from the CPU 31.

On the other hand, if no individual update button is pressed (step S103;NO), the CPU 31 determines whether the collective update button ispressed (step S108). More specifically, for example, the CPU 31determines whether a touch operation on the button 605 is received bythe touch screen 36. Here, the user presses the collective update buttonon the installation location check screen after operating the electricaldevice installed at the installation location displayed as theinstallation location of an electrical device of interest.

If the collective update button is pressed (step S108; YES), the CPU 31acquires the device state information of each electrical device from thecontrol apparatus 100 (step S109). For example, the CPU 31 controls theindoor telecommunication network interface 37 to send to the controlapparatus 100 an instruction to acquire the device state information ofeach electrical device. On the other hand, in response to receiving theacquisition instruction from the terminal apparatus 300, the controlapparatus 100 sends to the electrical devices a command to request thedevice state information. On the other hand, in response to receivingthe command from the control apparatus 100, the electrical devices sendthe device state information thereof to the control apparatus 100.

Here, based on the device state information received from the electricaldevices, the control apparatus 100 updates the device information ofeach electrical device stored in the flash memory 14. Moreover, thecontrol apparatus 100 sends the device state information received fromthe electrical devices to the terminal apparatus 300. On the other hand,the CPU 31 acquires the device state information of each electricaldevice sent from the control apparatus 100 via the indoortelecommunication network interface 37. The CPU 31 stores the acquireddevice state information of each electrical device in the flash memory34.

After completing the processing of step S109, the CPU 31 identifies anelectrical device for which the device state has changed after thepressing operation relative to before the pressing operation (stepS110). For example, the CPU 31 determines for each electrical devicewhether the device state information before the pressing operationstored in the flash memory 34 matches the device state information afterthe pressing operation stored in the flash memory 34. Here, the devicestate information before the pressing operation of each electricaldevice is contained, for example, in the device information of eachelectrical device acquired in the step S101, or updated deviceinformation of each electrical device described later. Here, the CPU 31can update the device information of each electrical device stored inthe flash memory 34 using the device state information of eachelectrical device acquired in the step S109 after the aboveidentification.

After completing the processing of step S110, the CPU 31 updates theinstallation location check screen to explicitly show the identifiedelectrical device (step S111). More specifically, first, the CPU 31updates the device state of the identified electrical device to a newdevice state in the installation location check screen before change ofthe device state of the identified electrical device (for example, thescreen 600) and changes the display mode to clarify the identifiedelectrical device. Then, the CPU 31 supplies to the touch screen 36image signals for displaying a changed installation location checkscreen (for example, the screen 620). On the other hand, the touchscreen 36 displays the installation location check screen according tothe image signals supplied from the CPU 31.

The CPU 31 returns processing to the step S103 if the device state ofthe electrical device of interest, relative to prior to the pressingoperation, is not changed after the pressing operation (step S106; NO),after completing the processing of the step S107, or if the collectiveupdate button is not pressed (step S108: NO) and then after completingthe processing of the step S111.

According to this embodiment, the screen explicitly shows whether thedevice state of an electrical device of interest is changed due to anoperation of the user on an operation target electrical device expectedto be the electrical device of interest. More specifically, according tothis embodiment, whether the device state of an electrical device ofinterest has changed due to an operation by the user is explicitly shownon the screen based on the device state information of the electricaldevice of interest newly collected by the control apparatus afteroperation by the user of an electrical device installed in the expectedinstallation location of the electrical device of interest. Therefore,according to this embodiment, whether the installation location of anelectrical device of interest is correctly set can be explicitlyindicated to the user.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, whether the device state of anelectrical device of interest is changed after an instruction to acquirethe device state information of the electrical device of interestrelative to before the instruction to acquire the device information isexplicitly shown in the fields in the screen in which the deviceinformation of the electrical device of interest is displayed.Therefore, according to this embodiment, the user can be explicitlyshown whether the installation location of an electrical device ofinterest is correctly set. Moreover, according to this embodiment, theonly acquired device state information is that of the electrical deviceof interest, thereby enabling rapid checking of the installationlocation while using a low amount of communication traffic.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the screen clearly shows thefields of the device information of an electrical device for which thedevice state after an instruction to acquire the device stateinformation of the electrical devices changes relative to before theinstruction. Therefore, according to this embodiment, when theinstallation location of the electrical device of interest is notcorrectly set, the user can be explicitly shown the installationlocation for which the electrical device is mistaken to be theelectrical device of interest.

Modified Embodiment of Embodiment 1

In Embodiment 1, an example is described in which the device stateinformation is acquired in response to the user pressing an updatebutton that is an individual update button or the collective updatebutton. In the present disclosure, the device state information may beacquired automatically and periodically.

In such a case, the device information acquirer 301 periodicallyacquires from the control apparatus 100 the device state information thecontrol apparatus 100 periodically collects from the electrical devices.The device information acquirer 301 includes, for example, the CPU 31,RTC 35, and indoor telecommunication network interface 37.

Then, the device information display 302 explicitly shows on a screenthe fields in which there is display of the device information of anelectrical device for which the device state indicated by the devicestate information periodically acquired by the device informationacquirer 301 has changed. Here, the screen can be, for example, a screenexcluding the buttons 604 and button 605 from the installation locationcheck screen shown in FIG. 8, that is, the screen 620.

The installation location check support procedure executed by theterminal apparatus 300 according to the modified embodiment is describednext with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10. Here, theterminal apparatus 300 starts the installation location check supportprocedure shown in FIG. 10, for example, in response to the touch screen36 receiving an instruction to start the installation location checksupport procedure.

First, the CPU 31 acquires the device information of each electricaldevice from the control apparatus 100 (step S201). The CPU 31 stores theacquired device information of each electrical device in the flashmemory 34.

After completing the processing of step S201, the CPU 31 displays aninstallation location check screen (step S202). For example, the CPU 31controls the touch screen 36 to displays a screen excluding the buttons604 and button 605 from the installation location check screen shown inFIG. 6, that is, the screen 600.

After completing the processing of step S202, the CPU 31 restarts atimer counter (step S203). More specifically, the CPU 31 clears and setsto zero a timer counter configured by the RTC 35 and starts count-up ofthe timer counter.

After completing the processing of step S203, the CPU 31 determineswhether the value of the timer counter is greater than or equal to athreshold (step S204). More specifically, for example, the CPU 31determines whether the value of the timer counter configured by the RTC35 is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold. If the valueof the timer counter is not greater than or equal to the threshold (stepS204; NO), processing by the CPU 31 returns to step S204.

On the other hand, if the value of the timer counter is greater than orequal to the threshold (step S204; YES), the CPU 31 acquires the devicestate information of each electrical device from the control apparatus100 (step S205). The CPU 31 stores the acquired device state informationof each electrical device in the flash memory 34.

After completing the processing of step S205, the CPU 31 identifies anelectrical device for which the device state after the pressingoperation is changed relative to before the pressing operation (stepS206). The CPU 31 can update the device information of each electricaldevice stored in the flash memory 34 with the device state informationof each electrical device acquired in step S205 after the aboveidentification.

After completing the processing of step S206, the CPU 31 updates theinstallation location check screen to explicitly show the identifiedelectrical device (step S207). More specifically, the CPU 31 controlsthe touch screen 36 to display a screen excluding the buttons 604 andbutton 605 from the installation location check screen shown in FIG. 8,that is, the screen 620.

After completing the processing of step S207, processing by the CPU 31returns to step S203.

According to this embodiment, a screen automatically and periodicallyclearly shows the fields of the device information of an electricaldevice for which the device state has changed. Therefore, according tothis embodiment, when the installation location of the electrical deviceof interest is not correctly set, in an easy-to-understand mannerrequiring less time and effort of the user, the user can be explicitlyshown the installation location at which the electrical device ismistaken to be the electrical device of interest.

Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 1, an example is described in which the terminal apparatus300 displays a screen explicitly showing whether the installationlocation of an electrical device is proper after the user operates anelectrical device. In the present disclosure, the method of supportingthe user in checking the installation location of an electrical deviceis not restricted to the above example. For example, in the presentdisclosure, a control command causing an obvious device state change maybe sent to an electrical device when the user requests checking of theinstallation location of an electrical device by a terminal apparatus310. The following explanation is basically a description of thedifferences between the terminal apparatus 310 according to Embodiment 2and the terminal apparatus 300 according to Embodiment 1. Moreover, theterminal apparatus 310 according to Embodiment 2 has the same physicalconfiguration as the terminal apparatus 300 according to Embodiment 1.

First, the basic function of the terminal apparatus 310 is describedwith reference to FIG. 11. The terminal apparatus 310 functionallyincludes a device information acquirer 301 for acquiring deviceinformation, a device information display 302 for displaying the deviceinformation, an operation detector 305 for detecting a pressingoperation, an electrical device identifier 306 for identifying anelectrical device, a control command selector 307 for selecting acontrol command, and a transmission instruction transmitter 308 fortransmitting a transmission instruction.

The device information acquirer 301 acquires the device information ofeach electrical device from the control apparatus 100. Here, the controlapparatus 100 uses control commands to control the electrical devices.Moreover, the control apparatus 100 stores the device information ofeach electrical device including information presenting an identifieridentifying the electrical device, information presenting an expectedinstallation location that is expected to be the location where theelectrical device is installed, and control command informationpresenting control commands. The device information acquirer 301includes, for example, the CPU 31 and indoor telecommunication networkinterface 37.

The device information display 302 associates and displays on a screenthe identifier, the expected installation location, and an installationlocation check instruction button for each electrical device based onthe device information of each electrical device acquired by the deviceinformation acquirer 301. The device information display 302 includes,for example, the CPU 31 and touch screen 36.

The operation detector 305 detects a pressing operation on aninstallation location check instruction button displayed on the screenfor each electrical device by the device information display 302. Theoperation detector 305 includes, for example, the CPU 31 and touchscreen 36.

The electrical device identifier 306 identifies an electrical deviceidentified with an identifier displayed on the screen in associationwith the installation location check instruction button on which apressing operation is detected by the operation detector 305. Theelectrical device identifier 306 includes, for example, the CPU 31.

Among control commands to the electrical device identified by theelectrical device identifier 306 based on the device information of eachelectrical device acquired by the device information acquirer 301, thecontrol command selector 307 selects a control command causing avisually or audibly obvious device state change. The control commandselector 307 includes, for example, the CPU 31.

The transmission instruction transmitter 308 sends to the controlapparatus 100 an instruction to transmit the control command selected bythe control command selector 307 to the electrical device identified bythe electrical device identifier 306. The transmission instructiontransmitter 308 includes, for example, the CPU 31 and indoortelecommunication network interface 37.

An installation location check screen on which installation locationcheck buttons are displayed is described next with reference to FIG. 12.

As shown in FIG. 12, an identifier (the name of an electrical device),an installation location (an expected installation location), a devicestate, and an installation location check button are associated anddisplayed for each electrical device on a screen 630 that is aninstallation location check screen. Here, the identifier is displayed ina field 601, the installation location is displayed in a field 602, andthe device state is displayed in a field 603. Here, all of theidentifier, installation location, and device state are presented by thedevice information the terminal apparatus 300 based on acquisition fromthe control apparatus 100. Here, the device information the terminalapparatus 300 acquired from the control apparatus 100 includes controlcommand information presenting control commands to the electricaldevice.

Moreover, buttons 606 are displayed next to the fields 603. The button606 is an installation location check button receiving an instruction tocheck the installation location of the electrical device correspondingto the button 606.

Here, upon display of the installation location check screen shown inFIG. 12, the user is assumed to check whether the installation locationof an electrical device of interest is correctly registered. Here, theelectrical device of interest is assumed to be the electrical device 230(air conditioner 3). In such a case, the user moves to the bedroom thatis expected to be the location where the electrical device 230 isinstalled and presses the button 606 (an installation location checkbutton) associated with the electrical device 230.

On the other hand, in response to pressing of the button 606, theterminal apparatus 310 identifies an electrical device associated withthe button 606 (an electrical device of interest). Then, among controlcommands to the identified electrical device based on the deviceinformation acquired from the control apparatus 100, the terminalapparatus 310 selects a control command causing a visually or audiblyobvious device state change. Then, the terminal apparatus 310 sends tothe control apparatus 100 an instruction to transmit the selectedcontrol command to the identified electrical device.

The selected control command is preferably a control command for causinga device state change the user can easily recognize, such as a controlcommand to turn on a light emitting element of the electrical device, acontrol command to make the electrical device beep, or a control commandto greatly change the shape of the electrical device.

Here, in response to receiving the transmission instruction from theterminal apparatus 310, the control apparatus 100 sends the selectedcontrol command to the identified electrical device. On the other hand,in response to receiving the control command from the control apparatus100, the identified electrical device executes an operationcorresponding to the control command and causes a change in the devicestate. Then, based on whether there is a change in the state of theelectrical device that can be checked from the location of the user, theuser can determine whether the installation location set for theelectrical device of interest is correct. More specifically, when thereis a change in the state of the electrical device that can be checkedfrom the location of the user, the user determines that the installationlocation set for the electrical device of interest is correct. On theother hand, when there is no change in the state of the electricaldevice that can be checked from the location of the user, the userdetermines that the installation location set for the electrical deviceof interest is not correct.

The installation location check support procedure executed by theterminal apparatus 310 is described next with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 13. Here, the terminal apparatus 310 starts theinstallation location check support procedure shown in FIG. 13, forexample, in response to the touch screen 36 receiving an instruction tostart the installation location check support procedure.

First, the CPU 31 acquires the device information of each electricaldevice from the control apparatus 100 (step S301). The CPU 31 stores theacquired device information of each electrical device in the flashmemory 34.

After completing the processing of step S301, the CPU 31 displays aninstallation location check screen (step S302). For example, the CPU 31controls the touch screen 36 to display the installation location checkscreen shown in FIG. 12, that is, the screen 630.

After completing the processing of step S302, the CPU 31 determineswhether an installation location check button is pressed (step S303).More specifically, for example, the CPU 31 determines whether a touchoperation on a button 606 is received by the touch screen 36. Here, theuser presses an installation location check button on the installationlocation check screen after moving to a place from which the user canrecognize a change in the device state of the electrical deviceinstalled at the installation location displayed as the installationlocation of the electrical device of interest.

If an installation location check button is pressed (step S303; YES),the CPU 31 identifies an electrical device of interest, that is, anelectrical device to check the installation location thereof (stepS304). For example, the CPU 31 identifies the electrical devicecorresponding to the pressed button 606 as the electrical device ofinterest.

After completing the processing of step S304, the CPU 31 selects acontrol command for easy checking of the installation location (stepS305). More specifically, the CPU 31 identifies the device informationof the electrical device of interest in the device information acquiredin step S301. Then, the CPU 31 selects a control command for causing avisually or audibly obvious device state change based on the controlcommand information contained in the identified device information.

After completing the processing of step S305, the CPU 31 sends to thecontrol apparatus 100 an instruction to transmit the selected controlcommand (step S306). For example, the CPU 31 controls the indoortelecommunication network interface 37 to send to the control apparatus100 an instruction to transmit the selected control command. On theother hand, in response to receiving the transmission instruction fromthe terminal apparatus 300, the control apparatus 100 sends the selectedcontrol command to the electrical device of interest. On the other hand,in response to receiving the selected control command from the controlapparatus 100, the electrical device of interest executes an operationaccording to the control command and changes the device state. On theother hand, for the electrical device for which the device state isrecognizable from the location of the user, the user can determinewhether there is a change in the device state.

If no installation location check button is pressed (step S303; NO), orafter completing the processing of the step S306, processing by the CPU31 returns to step S303.

According to this embodiment, a control command causing a visually oraudibly obvious device state change is sent to an electrical device ofinterest while the user is present at a location where the user canrecognize the device state of the electrical device installed at alocation expected to be the installation location of the electricaldevice of interest. Therefore, according to this embodiment, in aneasily understood manner, user can be informed as to whether theinstallation location of the electrical device of interest is correctlyset.

Embodiment 3

In Embodiment 1, an example is described in which the user is supportedin after-the-fact checking of whether the registered installationlocation is proper. In the present disclosure, the user may be supportedin setting an installation location as correctly as possible. An exampleis described below in which an installation location of an electricaldevice is set while pairing the electrical device and control apparatus100. Here, “pairing” refers to the procedure of setting up an electricaldevice in the control apparatus 100 to enable intercommunication betweenthe control apparatus 100 and electrical device.

Here, although equipped with a control apparatus 110 in place of thecontrol apparatus 100, the installation location setting support systemaccording to Embodiment 3 is physically configured similarly to that ofthe installation location check support system 1000 according toEmbodiment 1. In other words, the physical configuration of the controlapparatus 110 according to Embodiment 3 is similar to that of thecontrol apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1. The followingexplanation is basically a description of the differences between thecontrol apparatus 110 according to Embodiment 3 and the controlapparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1. In the embodiment describedbelow, the electrical device 210 is taken to be the electrical devicefor which the installation location is to be set.

First, the basic function of the control apparatus 110 is described withreference to FIG. 14. The control apparatus 110 functionally includes aregistration request receiver 101 for receiving a request to registerthe electrical device 210, a device register 102 for registering theelectrical device 210, an installation location information acquirer 103for acquiring installation location information, an installationlocation information storage 104 for storing the installation locationinformation, and a communicator 105 for communicating with theelectrical device 210.

The registration request receiver 101 receives from the electricaldevice 210 to be controlled or monitored by the terminal apparatus 300,via the control apparatus 110, a request to register the electricaldevice 210 in the control apparatus 110. The registration requestreceiver 101 includes, for example, the indoor telecommunication networkinterface 17.

In response to reception of the registration request by the registrationrequest receiver 101, the device register 102 registers the electricaldevice 210 in the control apparatus 110. The device register 102includes, for example, the CPU 11 and indoor telecommunication networkinterface 17.

The installation location information acquirer 103 acquires installationlocation information indicating the location where the electrical device210 is installed. The installation location information acquirer 103includes, for example, the touch screen 16 and indoor telecommunicationnetwork interface 17.

The installation location information storage 104 stores theinstallation location information acquired by the installation locationinformation acquirer 103. The installation location information storage104 includes, for example, the CPU 11 and flash memory 14.

After the electrical device 210 is registered in the control apparatus110 by the device register 102 and the installation location informationis stored in the installation location information storage 104, thecommunicator 105 receives device information from the electrical device210 or sends control commands to the electrical device 210. Thecommunicator 105 includes, for example, the CPU 11 and indoortelecommunication network interface 17.

The installation location setting support procedure executed by thecontrol apparatus 110 is described next with reference to the flowchartshown in FIG. 15. Here, the control apparatus 110 starts theinstallation location setting support procedure shown in FIG. 15, forexample, in response to being powered on.

First, the CPU 11 determines whether a request to register theelectrical device 210 is made (step S401). For example, the CPU 11determines whether a registration request sent from the electricaldevice 210 is received by the indoor telecommunication network interface17. Here, the electrical device 210 can send a registration request tothe control apparatus 110, for example, when the electrical device 210receives a registration request operation from the user or when theelectrical device 210 is installed at a location where the electricaldevice 210 is connectable to the indoor telecommunication network 400.If no request to register the electrical device 210 is made (step S401;NO), processing by the CPU 11 returns to step S401.

On the other hand, if a request to register the electrical device 210 ismade (step S401; YES), the CPU 11 registers the electrical device 210(step S402). More specifically, the CPU 11 conducts paring between thecontrol apparatus 110 and electrical device 210 so that basiccommunication is available. For example, the CPU 11 sends the MACaddress of the control apparatus 110 to the electrical device 210 andreceives the MAC address of the electrical device 210 from theelectrical device 210. Moreover, the CPU 11 performs actions such asassigning an IP address and assigning an identifier to the electricaldevice 210.

After completing the processing of step S402, the CPU 11 startsacquiring installation location information (step S403). Here, themethod for the CPU 11 to acquire installation location information canbe appropriately modified.

For example, the CPU 11 can display a room layout on the touch screen16. In such a case, the touch screen 16 receives a touch operationspecifying an installation location of the electrical device 210 fromthe user. On the other hand, the CPU 11 can identify the installationlocation indicated by the touch operation received by the touch screen16. Here, for registering the electrical device 210 in the controlapparatus 110, the user is usually at a place where the electricaldevice 210 is installed. Therefore, when the user registers theelectrical device 210 in the control apparatus 110 and simultaneouslysets the installation location of the electrical device 210 in thecontrol apparatus 110, the user is unlikely to set a wrong installationlocation.

Moreover, for example, the CPU 11 may automatically acquire installationlocation information from the electrical device 210. More specifically,for example, the CPU 11 sends a request to transmit installationlocation information to the electrical device 210 via the indoortelecommunication network interface 17. On the other hand, in responseto receiving the transmission request, the electrical device 210 sendsinstallation location information to the control apparatus 110. Then,the CPU 11 can acquire the installation location information received bythe indoor telecommunication network interface 17. Here, the electricaldevice 210 can regard, for example, information presented by a DIPswitch installed in the electrical device 210 as the installationlocation information. In such a case, the DIP switch has to be set to avalue assigned to the room where the electrical device 210 is installed.

Moreover, the CPU 11 can acquire the installation location informationbased on information read by a bar code reader. In such a case, the usermakes a bar code reader read a tag that is attached to the electricaldevice 210 and records the MAC address of the electrical device 210. Onthe other hand, the CPU 11 identifies the installation location of theelectrical device 210 based on the MAC address of the electrical device210 acquired by the bar code reader. In such a case, for example, atable indicating the correspondence between the MAC addresses andinstallation locations should be stored in the flash memory 14 or thelike.

After completing the processing of step S403, the CPU 11 determineswhether the installation location information is acquired (step S404).If no installation location information is acquired (step S404; NO),processing by the CPU 11 returns to step S404. In other words, the CPU11 repeats the determination of step S404 until the installationlocation information is acquired.

If the installation location information is acquired (step S404; YES),the CPU 11 stores the installation location information (step S405). Forexample, the CPU 11 associates and stores in the flash memory 14 theacquired installation location information and information indicatingthe identifier of the electrical device 210.

After completing the processing of step S405, the CPU 11 startscontrolling or monitoring the registered electrical device 210 (stepS406). From then on, the CPU 11 can control the electrical device 210by, for example, sending control commands to the electrical device 210.Moreover, the CPU 11 can monitor the electrical device 210 by, forexample, sending to the electrical device 210 a command to requestacquisition of device information and receiving the device information(or a command containing the device information) sent from theelectrical device 210 in response. After completing the processing ofthe Step S406, processing by the CPU 11 returns to step S401.

According to this embodiment, the installation location of theelectrical device 210 is set in the control apparatus 110 when theelectrical device 210 is registered in the control apparatus 110.Therefore, according to this embodiment, the possibility of incorrectsetting of the installation location of the electrical device 210 can bedecreased.

Modified Embodiment

Although embodiments of the present disclosure are described above,various types of modifications or applications can be adopted, accordingto the implementation.

In the present disclosure, any portions of the configurations,functions, and operations described in the above embodiments can beutilized. Moreover, in the present disclosure, besides theabove-described configurations, functions, and operations, additionalconfigurations, functions, and operations may be utilized. Moreover, theconfigurations, functions, and operations described in the aboveembodiments can be combined as desired.

For example, a terminal apparatus may execute both the installationlocation check support procedure executed by the terminal apparatus 300according to Embodiment 1 and the installation location check supportprocedure executed by the terminal apparatus 310 according to Embodiment2. Such a terminal apparatus is expected to be more convenient for theuser.

Moreover, for example, at least one of the installation location checksupport procedure executed by the terminal apparatus 300 according toEmbodiment 1 and the installation location check support procedureexecuted by the terminal apparatus 310 according to Embodiment 2 may beexecuted after execution of the installation location setting supportprocedure by the control apparatus 110 according to Embodiment 3. Insuch a case, a wrong installation location is less likely to be set, andfurthermore, a wrong installation location can be expected to be easilyfound.

In Embodiment 3, an example is described in which the control apparatus110 is used as an interface, and the electrical device 210 and theinstallation location of the electrical device 210 are set in thecontrol apparatus 110. In the present disclosure, for example, theelectrical device 210 and the installation location of the electricaldevice 210 may be registered in the control apparatus 110 using theterminal apparatus 300 as a user interface.

By applying operation programs defining the operation of the controlapparatus or terminal apparatus according to the present disclosure tothe personal computer and the like, an existing personal computer orinformation terminal apparatus can be enabled to function as the controlapparatus or terminal apparatus according to the present disclosure.

The above programs may be distributed by any method and, for example,may be stored and distributed on a non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM),digital versatile disk (DVD), magneto-optical disk (MO), and memorycard, or distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

The foregoing describes some example embodiments for explanatorypurposes. Although the foregoing discussion has presented specificembodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes maybe made in form and detail without departing from the broader spirit andscope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings areto be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Thisdetailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims,along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims areentitled.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is applicable to systems controlling electricaldevices using a control apparatus.

1. A terminal apparatus, comprising: an acquirer configured to acquiredevice information from a storage apparatus configured to store thedevice information of each electrical device of a plurality ofelectrical devices including an identifier identifying an electricaldevice, an expected installation location expected to be a locationwhere the electrical device is installed, and device state informationindicating a device state of the electrical device; and a displayconfigured to associate and display on a screen the identifier, theexpected installation location, and the device state for each electricaldevice based on the device information acquired by the acquirer, whereinthe acquirer is configured to acquire from the storage apparatus devicestate information of an electrical device designated by a user after anyof the plurality of electrical devices is operated by the user; and thedisplay is configured to explicitly show on the screen whether thedevice state of the designated electrical device has changed due to theoperation by the user based on the device state information acquired bythe acquirer.
 2. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a receiver configured to receive from the user anacquisition instruction to acquire the device state information of thedesignated electrical device after the operation by the user; and atransmitter configured to transmit to the storage apparatus a request toacquire the device state information of the designated electrical devicein response to the receiver receiving the acquisition instruction,wherein the acquirer is configured to acquire from the storage apparatusdevice state information collected from the designated electrical deviceby the storage apparatus in response to the acquisition request; and thedisplay is configured to explicitly show, in fields on the screen inwhich the device information of the designated electrical device isdisplayed, whether the device state of the designated electrical devicehas changed after receiving of the acquisition instruction by thereceiver in comparison to before the receiving of the acquisitioninstruction.
 3. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a receiver configured to receive from the user anacquisition instruction to acquire the device state information of eachelectrical device after the operation by the user; and a transmitterconfigured to transmit to the storage apparatus a request to acquire thedevice state information of each electrical device in response toreceiving of the acquisition instruction by the receiver, wherein theacquirer is configured to acquire from the storage apparatus devicestate information collected from each electrical device by the storageapparatus in response to the acquisition request; and the display isconfigured to explicitly show on the screen fields for displaying thedevice information of an electrical device for which the device statehas changed after the receiving of the acquisition instruction by thereceiver in comparison to before the receiving of the acquisitioninstruction.
 4. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theacquirer is configured to periodically acquire from the storageapparatus the device state information that the storage apparatusperiodically collects from each electrical device; and the display isconfigured to explicitly show on the screen fields for displaying thedevice information of an electrical device for which the device statepresented by the device state information periodically acquired by theacquirer has changed.
 5. A terminal apparatus, comprising: an acquirerconfigured to acquire device information from a control apparatusconfigured to control each electrical device of a plurality ofelectrical devices with control commands and store the deviceinformation of each electrical device including an identifieridentifying an electrical device, an expected installation locationexpected to be a location where the electrical device is installed, andthe control commands; a display configured to associate and display on ascreen the identifier, the expected installation location, and a checkinstruction button for each electrical device based on the deviceinformation acquired by the acquirer; a detector configured to detect apressing operation on the check instruction button displayed on thescreen for each electrical device by the display; a selector configuredto select, based on the device information acquired by the acquirer, acontrol command causing a visually or audibly obvious device statechange among the control commands to an electrical device identifiedwith the identifier displayed on the screen in association with thecheck instruction button on which the pressing operation is detected bythe detector; and a transmitter configured to transmit to the controlapparatus an instruction to transmit the control command selected by theselector to the identified electrical device.
 6. A control apparatus,comprising: a receiver configured to receive from an electrical deviceto be controlled or monitored by a terminal apparatus via the controlapparatus a registration instruction to register the electrical devicein the control apparatus; a registrar configured to register theelectrical device in the control apparatus in response to receiving ofthe registration instruction by the receiver; an acquirer configured toacquire installation location information indicating a location wherethe electrical device is installed; a memory configured to store theinstallation location information acquired by the acquirer; and acommunicator configured to receive device information from theelectrical device or send control commands to the electrical deviceafter the electrical device is registered in the control apparatus bythe registrar and the installation location information is stored in thememory.
 7. An installation location check support system, comprising aterminal apparatus and a storage apparatus, wherein the storageapparatus is configured to store device information of each electricaldevice of a plurality of electrical devices including an identifieridentifying an electrical device, an expected installation locationexpected to be a location where the electrical device is installed, anddevice state information indicating a device state of the electricaldevice; the terminal apparatus comprises: an acquirer configured toacquire the device information from the storage apparatus; and a displayconfigured to associate and display on a screen the identifier, theexpected installation location, and the device state for each electricaldevice based on the device information acquired by the acquirer; theacquirer is configured to acquire from the storage apparatus devicestate information of an electrical device designated by a user any ofthe plurality of electrical devices is operated by the user; and thedisplay is configured to explicitly show on the screen whether thedevice state of the designated electrical device has changed due to theoperation by the user based on the device state information acquired bythe acquirer.
 8. An installation location check support system,comprising a terminal apparatus and a control apparatus, wherein thecontrol apparatus is configured to control each electrical device of aplurality of electrical devices with control commands and store deviceinformation of each electrical device including an identifieridentifying an electrical device, an expected installation locationexpected to be a location where the electrical device is installed, andthe control commands; and the terminal apparatus comprises: an acquirerconfigured to acquire the device information from the control apparatus;a display configured to associate and display on a screen theidentifier, the expected installation location, and a check instructionbutton for each electrical device based on the device informationacquired by the acquirer; a detector configured to detect a pressingoperation on the check instruction button displayed on the screen foreach electrical device by the display; a selector configured to select,based on the device information acquired by the acquirer, a controlcommand causing a visually or audibly obvious device state change amongthe control commands to an electrical device identified with theidentifier displayed on the screen in association with the checkinstruction button on which the pressing operation is detected by thedetector; and a transmitter configured to transmit to the controlapparatus an instruction to transmit the control command selected by theselector to the identified electrical device.
 9. An installationlocation setting support system comprising a terminal apparatus and acontrol apparatus, wherein the control apparatus comprises: a receiverconfigured to receive from an electrical device a registrationinstruction to register in the control apparatus the electrical devicecontrolled or monitored by the terminal apparatus through the controlapparatus; a registrar configured to register the electrical device inthe control apparatus in response to receiving of the registrationinstruction by the receiver; an acquirer configured to acquireinstallation location information indicating a location where theelectrical device is installed; a memory configured to store theinstallation location information acquired by the acquirer; and acommunicator configured to receive device information from theelectrical device or send control commands to the electrical deviceafter the electrical device is registered in the control apparatus bythe registrar and the installation location information is stored in thememory.
 10. An installation location check support method, comprising:acquiring device information from a storage apparatus configured tostore the device information of each electrical device of a plurality ofelectrical devices including an identifier identifying an electricaldevice, an expected installation location expected to be a locationwhere the electrical device is installed, and device state informationindicating a device state of the electrical device; and associating anddisplaying on a screen the identifier, the expected installationlocation, and the device state for each electrical device based on theacquired device information, wherein device state information of anelectrical device designated by a user is acquired from the storageapparatus, after any of the plurality of electrical devices is operatedby the user; and whether the device state of the designated electricaldevice has changed due to the operation by the user is explicitly shownon the screen based on the acquired device state information.
 11. Aninstallation location check support method, comprising: acquiring deviceinformation from a control apparatus configured to control eachelectrical device of a plurality of electrical devices with controlcommands and store the device information of each electrical deviceincluding an identifier identifying an electrical device, an expectedinstallation location expected to be a location where the electricaldevice is installed, and the control commands; associating anddisplaying on a screen the identifier, the expected installationlocation, and a check instruction button for each electrical devicebased on the acquired device information; detecting a pressing operationon the check instruction button displayed on the screen for eachdisplayed electrical device; selecting, based on the acquired deviceinformation, a control command causing a visually or audibly obviousdevice state change among the control commands to an electrical deviceidentified with the identifier displayed on the screen in associationwith the check instruction button on which the pressing operation isdetected; and transmitting to the control apparatus an instruction totransmit the selected control command to the identified electricaldevice.
 12. An installation location setting support method, comprising:receiving from an electrical device to be controlled or monitored by aterminal apparatus via a control apparatus a registration instruction toregister the electrical device in the control apparatus; registering theelectrical device in the control apparatus in response to the receivingof the registration instruction; acquiring installation locationinformation indicating a location where the electrical device isinstalled; storing the acquired installation location information; andreceiving device information from the electrical device or sendingcontrol commands to the electrical device after the electrical device isregistered in the control apparatus and the installation locationinformation is stored.
 13. A non-transitory recording medium that isreadable by a computer of a terminal apparatus and that records aprogram allowing the computer to function as: an acquirer configured toacquire device information from a storage apparatus configured to storethe device information of each electrical device of a plurality ofelectrical devices including information indicating an identifieridentifying an electrical device, an expected installation locationexpected to be a location where the electrical device is installed, anddevice state information indicating a device state of the electricaldevice; and a display configured to associate and display on a screenthe identifier, the expected installation location, and the device statefor each electrical device based on the device information acquired bythe acquirer, wherein the acquirer is configured to acquire from thestorage apparatus device state information of an electrical devicedesignated by a user after any of the plurality of electrical devices isoperated by the user; and the display is configured to explicitly showon the screen whether the device state of the designated electricaldevice has changed due to the operation by the user based on the devicestate information acquired by the acquirer.
 14. A non-transitoryrecording medium that is readable by a computer of a terminal apparatusand that records a program allowing the computer to function as: anacquirer configured to acquire device information from a controlapparatus configured to control each electrical device with controlcommands and store the device information of each electrical deviceincluding an identifier identifying an electrical device, an expectedinstallation location expected to be a location where the electricaldevice is installed, and the control commands; a display configured toassociate and display on a screen the identifier, the expectedinstallation location, and a check instruction button for eachelectrical device based on the device information acquired by theacquirer; a detector configured to detect a pressing operation on thecheck instruction button displayed on the screen for each electricaldevice by the display; a selector configured to select, based on thedevice information acquired by the acquirer, a control command causing avisually or audibly obvious device state change among the controlcommands to an electrical device identified with the identifierdisplayed on the screen in association with the check instruction buttonon which the pressing operation is detected by the detector; and atransmitter configured to transmit to the control apparatus aninstruction to transmit the control command selected by the selector tothe identified electrical device.
 15. A non-transitory recording mediumthat is readable by a computer and that records a program allowing thecomputer of a control apparatus to function as: a receiver configured toreceive from an electrical device to be controlled or monitored by aterminal apparatus via the control apparatus a registration instructionto register the electrical device in the control apparatus; a registrarconfigured to register the electrical device in the control apparatus inresponse to receiving of the registration instruction by the receiver;an acquirer configured to acquire installation location informationindicating a location where the electrical device is installed; a memoryconfigured to store the installation location information acquired bythe acquirer; and a communicator configured to receive deviceinformation from the electrical device or send control commands to theelectrical device after the electrical device is registered in thecontrol apparatus by the registrar and the installation locationinformation is stored in the memory.